Not in his sound
UNTIL NOW, a senator and representative from Alaska have been taking the blame for a sneak amendment to a Coast Guard authorization bill that would give Governor Romney a veto over the Cape Wind project, which he has vociferously opposed. But it turns out Alaska Senator Ted Stevens had specific approval for the amendment from this state's own senior senator, Edward Kennedy. He risks sacrificing his reputation as an environmentalist and, as the owner of property in Hyannis Port, exposing himself to accusations of NIMBY-ism with his approval for this backroom act. Any concern Kennedy has that the project needs more review could be met with legislation calling for that. The Coast Guard amendment short-circuits the process.
A trip to Denmark, which already has offshore wind farms similar to Cape Wind's proposal, would show Kennedy and his neighbors that the project would have little effect on their views or property values. If Kennedy stood on his beach and sighted on his extended arm to where the turbines would be, they would be no bigger on the horizon than his thumbnail. Property values near the Danish windmills have risen, and sailors have no trouble steering clear of the towers.
But even if the project did slightly detract from Kennedy's surroundings, that would be a small price to pay for him and the well-heeled Cape and Island property owners who have largely financed the opposition to Cape Wind. This bid to sabotage a project that has complied with years of environmental and navigational review comes just as a flurry of new books and extensive articles has spelled out the severe impact that greenhouse gases could have on the globe's coastal areas and climate conditions.
Cape Wind is not the only answer to global warming. But it is the world's biggest proposed use of offshore winds, which are much stronger and more predictable than onshore winds. Wind power is the only way the state can meet its statutory goals for renewable energy production.
A rejection now of this proposal would -- after the millions of dollars invested -- send a discouraging message to other investors in cutting-edge energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases. It is bad enough that the Bush administration and congressional Republicans have blocked efforts to reduce greenhouse gases by requiring greater auto fuel efficiency or by placing a cap on the carbon dioxide emissions of power plants. It is downright embarrassing to have these deniers of global warming joined by a senator like Kennedy, who on so many other issues is able to put the interests of the country ahead of his own. 